Germany's final Nations League Group A3 match against Hungary ended in a 1-1 draw, with Dominik Szoboszlai converting a last-minute penalty to secure the point for Hungary. The match was largely a formality for Germany, who had already secured top spot in the group before the game began, and Julian Nagelsmann made nine changes to his starting lineup following their dominant 7-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The first half of the match was disappointing for Germany, as they struggled to find their rhythm. They failed to register a shot on target and were outshot by Hungary, losing the expected goals (xG) battle with a 0.17 to 0.51 score. Hungary, on the other hand, looked more organized and controlled, though they couldn’t capitalize on their superior performance.
The second half saw more action, starting with Leroy Sane’s goal being ruled out after a VAR review for an offside position. Moments later, substitute Kai Havertz came close to scoring, hitting the post with a powerful volley. It wasn’t until the 76th minute that Germany broke the deadlock, with Felix Nmecha scoring his first international goal by reacting quickly to a rebound from a blocked shot. However, Germany’s lead was short-lived.
In the final minute of stoppage time, Hungary was awarded a penalty after Robin Koch was judged to have handled the ball inside the penalty area. Szoboszlai stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, leveling the score at 1-1. Despite the late drama, the result had no bearing on the outcome of the group, as Germany had already clinched first place and a spot in the Nations League quarter-finals.
The draw extended Germany's impressive scoring streak to seven consecutive matches in the Nations League, including friendlies. The team finished their group campaign with 18 goals, showcasing their attacking strength, especially in their 7-0 demolition of Bosnia and Herzegovina. With their group victory secured, Germany will now face a second-place team from another League A group in the Nations League quarter-finals.
For Hungary, the draw meant they finished third in Group A3 and will now enter a relegation play-off against the second-placed team from League B. Despite finishing in third place, Hungary displayed resilience, with Szoboszlai’s late penalty serving as a fitting end to their group campaign.
Overall, while the match lacked much significance for Germany, it served as a reminder of their offensive firepower and depth, while Hungary can take pride in their performance, even though they now face the challenge of relegation in the upcoming play-offs.
